RP 35A: Hope?

[Snaga]

Lark looks at Tarien, concern in her eyes. 'Are you alright? We've been terribly worried.'

She says in a lowered voice to Eve. 'She means west of course! The mountains are westward. We must follow the edge of the forest for a while, and hope to avoid the orcs. At least we know we are looking for a fortress. Is she well enough to go on? I don't really understand elves too well. Lesser folk I would tell to rest!'

[EverEve]

With a sigh, Eve said after a long pause, "We will rest here for a few hours. Not long, just enough to recover some strength." Leading the party a bit deeper into the woods, a sense of relaxation seem to come over them. The woods seemed to be rather calming. Breathing deeply, Eve said "I suggest you rest, Tarien especially. I will stand watch for awhile. In a few hours we ride again."

[Mormegil]

Mormegil, Valar and Truor watched the others ride off towards the forest. They climbed up onto their horses and started riding, to the north. They could hear the Orcs shouting and crashing through trees in the distance behind them.
Mormegil felt uneasy. Lothlorien was a long way, and they were heading across open country with an Orc host following them. But it was the only option. They had to draw the orcs away from Lark and the others, and North was the only option.

Mormegil motioned to the others to be quiet and to ride faster. They carried on for a few hundred yards, but the noise of the army behind them grew louder.
Mormegil turned to look behind, just as an Orc scout came running towards them from a group of trees. The Orc held a hunting horn and began to raise it to his mouth.
Mormegil pulled up his horse and turned to face the Orc. He drew his bow and strung an arrow, just as the sound of the Orc's horn sent a booming sound around them. Mormegil sent the arrow flying towards the Orc and hit it directly in the throat, killing the sound of the horn. The Orc fell and didn't move. But now the land behind them was filled with the sound of more horns answering the call. The shouting grew louder and nearer, and more Orcs appeared.

Mormegil rode after Valar and Truor, riding his horse as fast as possible, whilst screaming, "RIDE! RIDE! They are upon us!"
The three riders sped across the land, hoping to outrun the Orc army that were close behind them, and hot on their trail.

[Tarien]

Despite the human's concern, the Elf had already healed, and could hear the far-away horn calls. She ran to her cat, crying to the others. Soon all the camp was mounted and ready to ride. Tarien was troubled. The orc cries were in the same direction she had planned to take. As she pondered, a black-flighted arrow whizzed past her head. She snatched it from the air, fit it to her own bow and shot it with a cry.
"Ride! Noro lim!"

[EverEve]

"I am no human, Tarien. I am an Elf as well." As seh spoke, an arrow whizzed past her. Looking in the direction of which it came, she saw more arrows. Crying out, the others jumped up. All of them jumped onto their horses with great speed. "Lark, follow Tarien with the others. I will bring up the rear."

Lark nodded grimly and motioned to the others, who nodded as well. Kit, Afterglow, and Lark galloped off following Tarien's trail. Eve drew Vulcan who was glimmering blueish-white and cut off the nearest orcs head, whose companions screamed in rage. With one last look at the orcs, Eve went speeding after her companions.

[Snaga]

At the tower, with the dark of night protecting them, more trolls returned. Brutally they smashed away at the stonecast remains of their kin to clear the trapdoor. It was slow work, but Elessar could see time was short. Two, three, four trolls he could hear below him. He stood poised, with sword drawn, ready to hew at the first one that made the climb.

Then suddenly he heard the clash of wood against stone, and realised the orcs were using ladders to try to climb to the gaping hole in the wall.

----------------------------------------------------

Valar, Mormegil and Truor rode like the wind, the great steeds of Rohan easily outpaced the orc footsoldiers, but they heard the howling of wolves behind them. Valar shouted to Mormegil: 'Mormegil! Wait! We must be careful. We need to lead them on... but not lose them. I fear the others will be followed too. If they give up the pursuit here, then the others will have the whole host to deal with.'

---------------------------------------------------

Lark spurred her horse into its greatest pace, til she was just ahead of the others. Then she forced them all to slow right down.

'We must stop this! We are being reckless!' she stormed at her companions, in a hoarse and angry whisper. 'We must stop shouting, and galloping like a storm! We are meant to be approaching this tower in stealth. All we are doing is attracting the host of the orcs onto us!'

The others were taken aback to see her speak so forcefully.

'Now, if you want to Elessar escape, ride slowly and softly and keep your ears sharp. We will use the dark of the night, and the veil of the trees as our cover. If we hear any orcs coming, we will stop and hide!'

September 6

It was midnight, chill and damp, hoarse cries and howls of wolves echoed across the land, not near, but too close for comfort. They shivered.

[YayGollum]

*with his horse going much slower now, Truor listens to the sounds of the wolves and leans over to Valar* "Hey, how long do you think we'll have to keep this up? Should we stop every now and then and shoot at them? Argh! I hate wolves!"

[¤-Elessar-¤]

Elessar turned, muttering a prayer to Manwe under his breath. He looked over the ledge, and saw some thirty orcs mustered under the ladder. He considered going down, and fighting them off. Just then a hand touched his shoulder and he turned, putting his blade a milimeter away from a small dwarf's artery. He laughed, the first time in a while, and spoke to his friend. "You have been out for a day or so, we are utterly surrounded; trolls are near to breaking in from the bottom, and orcs are scaling the tower. Now hurredly, bring me the cooking oil from the upper chambers!" Elessar feched a torch, and took the oil from the dwarf, he rolled the barrel up to the side of the opening, and pryed a plank from the side of it with a knife. The oil spilled down onto the orcs and the ladder. He dropped the torch, orcish screams echoed in torment. He then ran around to gather his things, leaving two cloaks out of his pack. He set those cloaks atop thin piles of rubble, just opposite the hole, where the moon now shone through. He and Uzbadul put on black cloaks, and his agianst the wall opposite the hole. They sat there for twenty or so minutes, when the Trolls finnaly broke through the door. They came crashing through the opening in the floor, and ran straight to the cloaks outlined by the moonlight. Elessar and Uzbadul jumped down the hole, and made a dash down the hallway, jumping in a room on the side, the room smelled of foul orc draughts.

[Tarien]

"Eve, I did not speak of you as a human." Tarien yells over the wind. Suddenly a plan forms, and she follows her friend's advice, with a quick motion to the others to do the same. She banks the cat quickly back on it's own tracks, and then whispers to it, causing it to leap up, for the air leaves no trail. She lands silently in the underbrush, and dismounts, leaving the cat away from the trail with the others. She herself, using all the stealth of her woodland kin, clad in her swirling Lorien cloak, creeps to the roadside, and sees the orcs hastily pass. Obviously they think their foes are ahead. After they are gone, she calls softly to the others. But now they take a path through the woods, not by the road. Stealth, speed, and suprise must now be their weapons. Battle would only announce their prescence.

[Snaga]

Mormegil, and Valar and Truor led the main force of the orcs ever northward, always little ahead of them and out of reach, but never losing them. They could hear the wolves, and distance cries of harsh voices and knew they would not lose the scent easily. And they feared to go either too fast or too slow. This is a dangerous game! thought Mormegil. It was some fifteen leagues across the grasslands to Lorien, where they hoped to find help from the elves, if any were guarding the southern reaches. Valar looked up at the moon in the sky above them. By his reckoning they could get there just before the sun rose. When they were sure that they had led the orc troops far enough away from the others, they could go faster and put some distance between them if they could.

At length they moon sank, its eery white light fading to a grey of approaching dawn. And they lifted their heads and sensed this was the time for the final sprint. They cried to their horses for a great sprint to the waiting trees, not many miles further. Thunderous was the pounding of hooves across the land as their horses ran as fast as they could: a desperate charge to safety they hoped.

At length they passed a great silver barked tree: a mallorn! Other trees grew there also, becoming ever denser, forcing them to slow their pace to a trot. All seemed quiet. Then a clear voice called down to them: 'Do not move! Who comes to the woods, on the tall horses of Rohan?'

------------------------------

Eve, Afterglow, Kit, Lark and Tarien made their way carefully westwards through the northern fringes of Fangorn. They did not stray far within for they felt its anger and hurt from the fires on the southern borders. Had they been extinguished now? Lark wondered. She hoped so.

At length they turned in a more northerly direction, leaving the forest. Sun rose as they found themselves climbing the steep bare slopes of chalky hills, up a dry and narrow gully. White stones crumbled beneath their feet. They knew the fortress could not be far further. For these hills were but the feet of the mountains rising sharply beyond them.

Now more than ever they were wary. They feared that the tops of these hills, bathed in the morning sunlight of autumn, would give them no way of hiding their approach. Sure enough, as they approached the prow of the hill they saw what they feared. Just a few gorse bushes with yellow flowers gave scant cover in patches, with perilous wide expanses of thin wiry grass in between. They looked carefully about them. Beyond the hills they saw the land descended again, and beyond was a dark cliff with mountain highlands above it.

'We must go that way!' said Tarien with certainty.

'But look!' said Eve suddenly. Their eyes followed her pointing finger. And away to the left, no more than 100 yards away, partially hidden under the shade of a small tree, were four orcs watching the land about them.

'Only four!' smiled Kit. 'After all I've seen, I won't be worried by four orcs!'

'Yes, but we must not let them raise the alarm. See: they have horns.'

'Elves have sharp eyes,' whispered Afterglow, who could not see more than small dark figures.

'And orcs have sharp ears. What shall we do?' asked Lark.

[YayGollum]

*Truor freezes and looks towards his companions nervously* "Oh, great. Why do these guys have to be so vigilant?" to the elf, "Hey! I'm Truor Tupnm and I'd rather be riding one of my own horses! We're just running from some Orcs, is that okay?"

[Mormegil]

Mormegil steps in and speaks before his companion gets all three of them killed.
"My name is Mormegil, this is Valar and Truor. We have ridden north to escape an army of Orcs that have issued forth from a tower in the Misty Mountains. We came this way in search of help and protection from the Elves of the wood. One of our friends has already been taken captive by this foe."

Mormegil stood there waiting for a response.

[¤-Elessar-¤]

One of the Elves drops from the trees, and looks at the companions deeply. He wistles and three more elves drop down beside him. "I am the marshal of the southern march of the wood, and had orders to detain you. It would seem whispers have come here that you had something to do with the great fires to the south, and we wish no trouble for our fair trees... Care to explain yourselves?"

[Tarien]

'Do not fear Fangorn, while Eve and I are with you. Unless much has changed in the world, the Ents will still respect the Elves, and those who travel with them.' Tarien strained her eyes twards the orcs. Suddenly she saw one look straight at her, and blow it's horn. It was answered by another horn far off, and another, and another, back away in the hills. 'FLY!' Tarien cried.

'How did they know we were there?' Afterglow asked, amazed.

'Have you forgotten your lessons? Orcs are corrupted Elves; And unfortunatley, they still have many of our better traits physically. Their ears and eyes are still as sharp as those of the Eldar.'

[Snaga]

The orcs drew their scimitars, but seeing that there were more in that group they decided to retreat. One grabbed a bow and fired an arrow at them. It sped towards Kit.

----------

In the fortress, Elessar and the dwarf were darting quietly through the tunnels and corridors of the fortress. They have evaded capture for since their escape from the tower. But the passageways were confusing and there were still orcs scurrying here and there. Often they had to duck into a corner as one passed by.

Then faintly, they heard the blowing of horns. Then one much louder, just below them it seemed. They turned a corner, and saw stairs leading down. They could see daylight at the bottom - the courtyard. Then running up the stairs came a group of orcs: ten in total. 'There they are! Get 'em!' they shouted, grabbing their crooked swords.

'Aw no! Not more orcs ta foight!' said the dwarf. 'Where's me axe?' He had no weapon, and Elessar had only his make-shift bow.

[Afterglow]

Afterglow's arm shot out and caught the arrow that was headed towards Kit. "I might not be an elf, but I can still hear an arrow coming." She said to the others who looked at her with wide eyes. Afterglow smiled sheepishly and held out the arrow. "Anyone want it?"

[YayGollum]

"Hey! We already explained ourselves and we haven't touched your precious little trees! We have no time to light fires when we're running from Orcs! Ack!"

[EverEve]

"I think you can keep it, unless someone else wants it." In the distance, Eve heard the answering calls of horns. With a deep sigh, she nodded to Tarien, and they sped off towards the tower.

[Tarien]

'Orcs by the door,' said Tarien, her farseeing eyes picking out the details of the gate. 'And.....' She spurred her cat into a headlong run, with Eve close behind.
'Elbereth Gilthoniel,
Silivren penna miriel
O menel aglar ellenath!'
she sang, high and clear.
Ellesar heard her and responded:
'Na-chaered palan-diriel
O galadhremmin ennorath,
Fanuilos, le linnathon
nef aear, si nef aearon!'

Now she knew for sure that Ellesar was there, and he knew that help was on the way.

It was a risk, both knew, for who else had heard them?

[¤-Elessar-¤]

The singing from outside the entrance startled the orcs, and they turned from the unarmed prey on the stares to the new threat outside. They began debating amongst themselves how to handle the newcommers, seeming to have forgotten the elvish man and the dwarf that were behind them. Elessar crept foreward. Eve and Tarien had just rounded the corner, their friends comming up behind them, when they were met with the horn of the gathered orcs, some twenty or thirty of them. However, Elessar had came to the rear of the nearest orc, and shoved his bow up the back of the orc's chestplate. The orc moved one tightly clenched hand from his spear in surprise, and tried to remove the bow while fending off Elessar, but Elessar got both hands on the orc's spear, and tore it from the orc's grip. He brought it around and crushed the orc's unprotected head, and the battle was begun. Uzbadul had crept off in search of something to fight with, and returned with a bent sword and a shovel. Weilding one in each hand, he proceded into the brawl.

[Tarien]

Tarien cannot use a long sword, for fear of hitting her friends; so she unsheaths her knives, which soon become mithril blurs as she fights through to Ellesar, moving faster than the eye can see. (Which is perfectly legal for Elves)

[¤-Elessar-¤]

Tarien fights her way to Elessar. He throws the spear into the center of one of the orcs, and reaches around her and unsheaths her longsword. He steps back, testing it's weight in his hands. He winks at her and rushes the way he came.
------
Elessar ran through the maze of passageways, now knowing where he was going. He finds the ladder leading to the tower above, and assends it. There are three trolls in the room. They are rummaging through his and the dwarf's packs. Elessar moves and closes the door, the dull thud drawing the attention of the Trolls. They growl in rage, as he unscrews the knob from the door (the trolls are not smart enough to screw it back in, they feel he has trapped them in that room). The first troll, without thinking, lunges at Elessar. The troll meets the extended blade of the sword and falls to the ground, a hole through his middle. The other two hesitate, seeing their brethren fall. One of them picks up a stray piece of tember from the destroyed ceiling. He uses it as a club and advances upon Elessar. Elessar sidesteps the blow, bringing the giant sword around to break the creatures spine at the neck, severing the spinal cord. The other picks up a handful of rocks, and begins to fling them at Elessar. He dives out of the way, and rolls to scoop one of the stones. He rises to a crouch and throws the stone at the troll, hitting him in they eye. The Troll reaches up with both hands to the wound, all the while Elessar was moving. He dove and came to a rolling stand in front of the troll. He embeded the sword through the hands, through the eye, and through the abnormaly stupid brain. He pulls it free and kicks the troll out the huge opening in the side of the tower. He went to the packs, disregarding everything but the dwarf's great axeHe then rushes to the exit, breaking the wooden door ,rather than putting the knob back. He jumps soundlessly to the floor, and runs in search of greater halls. Soon he finds a door, a great door, with golden framework. He cracks it slightly and hears counsiling inside. The voices are all but orcish or trollish. Elessar, seeing some ancient Numenorian armour in display in a crevice in the wall, creeps over and gets behind it. He calls out in the best orcish voice he can muster. "Lords, them damned trolls need you in the mess room, they have killed four of us, and more is on the way!" Seconds later cursing erupts from inside the room, and six men come out of the room. The man who looked to be the head of them, wearing black robes and a gold ringlet upon his head, wa in the lead. Something about him caught Elessar's eye. His sleves on his armes were up, and on his right arm there was a curious scar, from a burn it looked. It seemed to be a brand, in the shape of a giant snake, who was eating it's own tail. Elessar shook the strange occurance off, hiding the axe behind the armour and rushing into the room. He was immediately met by two heavily armed guards. The guards rushed him, one from each side of the room, and he jumped onto the center table, scattering maps and scrolls. One of the men swung a giant pike at him, and it nocked him over, onto the floor. The other man had a ****ed crossbow, and pulled the trigger. Elessar met, with the longsword, the arrow in the air, enough to nock it a few degrees off course. The arrow hit with a dull thunk, penetrating the breastplate of the first of the piked guard. Elessar rolled and picked up the pike. He flung it across the room, imbeding it, axe and all, into the other man's chest. He went to a chest on the other side of the room. There, in that big chest, were Elessar's things. The Ainar stone, Anduril, and many other personal possesions. He gathered them and placed them in his pack, which was also in the chest. He ran to the hall, gathering the axe, and ran down the hall. Many guards he met on the way, but with the heavy axe to bear down their weapons and the light sword to slay them they were little work. He returned to the hall just as the last of the orcs was being finished by the company, he tossed Uzbadul's axe to him. "Let's get on our way, we don't have much time. Night approaches quickly." He tossed Tarien a bloody sword and raised his own from it's sheath. It was not quite as long, but more fluent in it's movements, and it had the power of age and of experience. It isn't every day that a blade ended the reign of a dark lord.

[Tarien]

Tarien pauses to inspect the sword, then wraps it in a cloth and puts it in her quiver.
'Further inspection can wait' she thought, re-entering the fray.

[Snaga]

'Elessar!' cried Eve. 'Thank goodness you're alright!' And the others were delighted too, except Lark who looked at Elessar warily, and smiled carefully.

'Its good to see you all too. But there is no time for that now!' said Elessar. 'Let's go!'

Tarien came back around the corner, and said, 'They won't be coming this way for a little while at least.' The others looked at her with a new respect, seeing clearly she was a great fighter in her own way. Afterglow said, 'Hold on a minute, Elessar. What has been going on here. We thought you were taken captive?'

'Ah well I didn't like being caged!' said Elessar, smiling slightly. And quickly he told them what had happened, while all the time they listened for approaching feet.

'This dark lord. Who is he?' asked Lark. 'And this old man. These things are strange.'

'I know not.' said Elessar. 'All I know is they knew who I was. To be honest, I did not wish to talk!'

'No I suppose not. Still, we cannot leave here without answers. This room you found him, with the maps and scrolls. Can you take us there? I think we must try to find something that will help us understand things better.'

Kit looked at her. 'Do we have to? Wouldn't we be better off just getting out of here?'

But Afterglow said. 'No. She is right. All of this is a mystery. We know there must be some connection with all that has taken place but how can we solve the puzzle if we don't find all the clues?'

Elessar nodded. 'Then follow me. But be careful, and follow quickly. Those evil lords are still here I think. And I fear they will be a greater foe than these orcs and trolls. And we don't know when the orc army may return.'

Quickly and surely he led them through the tunnels back to the lords great chamber. Slain body's littered the way.

[¤-Elessar-¤]

They run through the halls, nearly tripping over the amounts of the dead. Lark wondered what happened, or why so many people had got in the way of Elessar in his rage... Or why this great gathering of orcs had come to place itself in the old Numenorian stronghold. But those questions, she reasoned, whould be answered in this room that everyone spoke of. Soon they were there, and Elessar cried aloud as he kicked open the doorway, "Peers of evil begone! The heir of Elendil has come to claim this place!" And then, as the doors opened, they saw a horendious sight. There were women and children, shackled to a great anvil in the center of the room. They were cleaning the blood of the two slain men off of the polished mable floor. There were five orcs in the room, and one human overseeing the orcs. The orcs, hearing an elven voice, turned in horror to the door. But they were strong orcs, the decendents of the orcmen of Sauron. They brandished huge double-edged swords at the companions. Eve drew her blade, and Tarien her bloodsoaked broadsword. Lark picked the crossbow off of the floor, and a blood bolt that had been laid beside it. The man, who was in robes of black, turned to them. He raised his shaking hands, and a bolt of what looked to be black lightning shot out from his fingers. Where they hit the wall nothing was left, no debris was there as evedence of a collision, for indeed, the magic had made that section of the wall disapear. The companions looked around, and noticed that Elessar was nowhere in sight. They turned back to their enimies. They had come in as assailents, and were now the assailed...

[EverEve]

Eve smiled muschieviously as the orcs came down upon them. There was no time to wonder where Ellesar had gone off too, so she concentrated on the matter at hand. One of the large orcs brought his sword down upon her, but Vulcan fended off the blow, and the swords clanged together loudly. The orc and Eve continued to fight sword-to-sword, and she found the orc had skill almost enough to match her own. Her jaw set determinely, she and the orc fought on...

[Snaga]

Far away on the fringes of Lothlorien, Valar spoke as quickly as he could. 'We saw indeed the fire of Fangorn and my flok are laboring now to quench the flames. Yet it was not our doing. A foul dragon of Morgoth came upon us, and set light the forest with its fiery breath. Please! You must help us, for there are orcs behind us in great numbers!'

And the elf replied. 'You must come to our queen with these tidings. Leave the orcs to us!'

--------------------------------------

Lark scrabbled with the crossbow trying to work out how to use it. It was complicated. Then the hooded figure turned towards them, and cast his dark glance upon them. And he had no face. And upon Kit, and Afterglow and Lark came a sickening horror, and a terror beyond all reason.

Only Tarien and Eve felt nothing, percieving only an empty shade of man, yet through him great power was being wielded.

Kit and Afterglow stumbled backwards blindly, trying desperately to draw a weapon, yet their minds were blackened with an unreasoning madness, and scarcely would their arms and fingers obey. And the orcs sensed it and advanced, leering, brandishing their weapons. But they shook, and covered their eyes against the terror of the wights gaze.

With a click, the bolt slotted into place. But Lark heeded it not. I must not run! I must not run! I must help my friends! Yet all she felt was a vast sickness, and an abyss of death in her heart, and all in the room seemed dim and far away. And while the orcs moved towards the others, he bent his will upon her, stretching forth his undead hand....

[YayGollum]

"Finally! I hope they have food!"

[¤-Elessar-¤]

Suddenly a white light, hot and pure, spread into Lark's mind. It blasted away the darkness, and the creature in the black robe screamed in anger, it's will defeated. Elessar sat, crouched, in the windowsil. His sword was out, but his eyes were rolled back in his head, and the part that should had been white was glowing with strange, surreal colours. And the voice of Elessar came to Lark, and she somehow knew that she did not hear it with her ears, but still she knew that he was speaking to her. His voice sounded cool, and clear, and soft. It said only one word, Shoot

[EverEve]

Eve and the orc stopped fighting, and they both turned to Ellesar in amazement. A smile formed on Eve's lips, but the orc began to shrink back in fear. Near her, Lark was aiming the crossbow, and was about to shoot.

[Tarien]

ooc: Why on Middle Earth do I have a bloodsoaked broadsword? Why wouldn't I draw my OWN long sword, a katana? Never mind, I'll work with what I have.

ic: Tarien sheaths the broadsword and draws her katana. Five orcs would soon die.

[¤-Elessar-¤]

ooc: OOOPS! I meant to say longsword! It is bloodsoaked because my character borrowed it, remember....

[Snaga]

ooc - Lets cut out the oocs! There's a discussion thread, remember!

The orcs rushed forward. Eve found herself facing two now. Tarien had a huge uruk chieftain, with an enormous shield and crooked sword in front of her. Others moved towards Afterglow and Kit, who were stricken with fear. Another jumped on the table to reach Lark.

Lark shut her eyes and clenching her fingers pulled the trigger on the crossbow, letting fate guide its flight.

And it arced upwards and pierced the throat of the orc on the table, who fell without a cry. But so fierce was its flight that point, shaft and feather went straight through the foul creatures neck without stopping. And it clattered against a wall, kindling in the fires of a torch that lit the chamber. And it fell back and down upon the evil Lord, and lo! the flames burst upon his black robes.

And he screamed with rage, and the dark power of fear upon Kit and Afterglow was for an instant broken.

[¤-Elessar-¤]

The man, drenched in flames, fell to the floor. And then the room became quiet and still, even the flames dared not to move. Suddenly, a black light shot out from the hood of the dark figure, and the huge flames of the fire turned to ice-cycles, and fell to the ground with a crash. The cloak surrounding the figure fell to the floor, and beneith there was nothing. A great shreak echoed from the room, as a spirit of malice and hatred flew up, went in a great arc, and sped out the window. Elessar had been moving since the fire had turned to icecyles, and now heaved the huge table to block the doorway, so that they could slay the rest of the orcs and search the room in peace. He turned to the company, and then to the orcs huddled in the corner of the room, one sword among them.

[Tarien]

Tarien takes blades from the cabnet and flings them at the remaining orcs.
'Let's see if my once-kindred remember how to use Elven blades.' She whispered, hatred burning in her eyes. The leader stepped foreward. She drew her katana and dropped into a fighting stance.

ooc: someone want to take the part of the orc? Like Snaga? He's an orc in another life, anyway!

[Snaga]

Kit and Afterglow sighed as the weight of the evil spirits presence was lifted, and they raised their eyes again. Afterglow clutched her staff once more.

But the orcs were cowed without their dark master, and shrank back, eyes wide, snarling. Retreating as Eve advanced, one stumbled against a chair. In a moment Eve sword crashed between helm and shoulder, and it fell dead.

The others held their swords out, and looked round anxiously, backs against the wall. Tarien leapt at them, blade whirling. There was a loud ring of steel against steel. Tarien ducked under a blow and slew one. Elessar slew one, and jumped above a low thrust, landing on the table. His sword crashed down upon the helm of another. It burst asunder.

The last one bolted. He leapt over the table, and made for the gaping hole in the wall. Lark still held the crossbow, and stood in the way. Screaming with rage and bloodlust, he aimed a wild blow at her head with a long dagger drawn from his belt. Lark thrust the crossbow at him, and tried to use it as a shield as she twisted out of the way. The dagger slid along the side of the crossbow, and sliced into her arm. Afterglow swung her staff into his stomach, winding him. Kits short sword finished him off.

The room was suddenly quiet, with just the sound of their breathing as they struggled to get their breath back.

'I killed my first orc!' cried Lark, heedless of the blood pouring from her arm. 'Some small revenge for my family! And perhaps that evil creature too?' she added less certainly.

'Nay!' said Eve. 'For that was some wight or wraith, and are not so easily driven from this world. Some fell magic ties its life-force to this world. Until we discover the secret of that, and can put an end to it, that spirit can reform and reshape. However, for now he will have departed it is to be hoped.'

'That is so,' agreed Elessar. 'But now we must make haste. Returning here was too much of a risk, to tarry would be a madness beyond measure.'

'Right!' said Kit. He opened his bag. 'Alright then, someone's got to be practical here! Lets stuff all these scrolls and maps in my bag, and then lets go!'

Afterglow quickly wrapped Lark's arm in some cloth, while the others stuffed the papers into Kit's bag. 'Urgh! Nasty!' she said, wrinkling her nose at the wound. 'That'll need a proper dressing as soon as possible. I don't like that at all!'

A shout from somewhere else in the fortress reminded them off their peril. 'Come on! Run!' shouted Tarien. And they fled with all speed away.

---------------------------------

In Lothlorien, Valar, Mormegil and Truor led their horses through the trees. They were reluctant to go, but the elves insisted. 'Your horses are of little help in the trees. You have come to the wood, and you must explain all that has happened to our queen Mirina.' It was a long and troublesome walk through the trees at first before as they neared Cerin Amroth, they thinned a little.

----------------------------------

Tarien led them out through the hidden tunnel, that emerged in the great rock face. They went with all haste, fearing pursuit behind them, or the return of the orc army in front of them. Where were their horses? They had left them here, and Tarien's cat too. There was no sign of them.

'Well if that doesn't cap it all!' said Kit, exasperated.

Eve gave a low whistle, and waited. And Tarien bent her will to summon her cat. And they waited. Then Wind Rider came running, neighing wildly, with the other horses following. He stopped quickly, and then came and nuzzled Eve with his head. 'I was worried, old friend!' Eve laughed. 'What's that? Oh you were frightened of the big cat! I see!'

Then Tarien's cat appeared too, carrying the remains of some animal in her mouth. 'Ah, you've been hunting I see!' Tarien smiled. 'Well don't think you can go to sleep now. We've got a long way to go!' The cat gave a sulky nonchalent look.

'We are one horse short!' stated Elessar.

'Your horse!' said Afterglow, sudden realisation dawning. 'We found him. Well he found us, and led us to where you were kidnapped. Is he with the others? We didn't decide! Don't say we left him to... to the orcs?'

And the others looked at their shoes, with guilty expressions all over their faces. Elessar looked at them, his face hardening. But then, with the thunder of hooves, they heard another horse approach. And it was Elessar's great steed. 'Its a good job he has more sense than you people!' he said, with a smile flickering on his lips. 'Now, where do we meet the others?'

There was another pause. A long pause. The others looked at each other. 'Well, you see it was dark, and the orcs were coming, and well, we had no time and...' Eve's voice trailed off slowly. Elessar looked at them again, shaking his head.

'Look, we rescued you. What more do you want?' Lark burst out, crossing her arms defensively. Then she winced, with pain from the injury.

'Lets worry about ourselves first, eh?' said Kit, with good plain hobbit sense. 'Shall we go?'

They all agreed to this, and mounted their steeds. They rode off, Elessar going first leading them at a fast steady pace.

In this way, they rode for many miles. Lark rode at the back pondering all that had happened. They had rescued Elessar. At least that had been achieved. And he didn't seem as bad this time. Wilful, but not so hostile, she decided. Perhaps he deserved a chance. He was good in a fight at least. Was it getting foggy? Where did they need to go next? Grass and grass and grass. Galloping and galloping. Yes, very misty. Where was Mormegil? I like Mormegil. And Valar. And whatshisname. My arm hurts. Galloping, galloping, what the hurry? Ah the evil one would wait forever for them. Why do we fly to him? Why do we fly to the sea? Where were they going? So much grass, like a misty sea. Swirling, toppling, crashing like a pale wave, fading. Pounding galloping hooves circling endlessly, dreaming, and song singing, silver land. My beautiful husband. How come you to me now? I love you so. How is our daughter? Why do you not speak? Yes I will tend the flock, but I am so busy. So busy. And my arm hurts terribly. I miss you. I am lonely in this grey sea of grass. I love you. Please don't go. All is dark.

-------------------------------

'Where is Lark?' said Eve, suddenly. And they saw her saddle was empty.

[¤-Elessar-¤]

Suddenly Bill, still in the front of the pack, reared up on his hind legs, and lightning in the distance outlined the figure of Elessar, riding the horse who was standing on two legs. He shouted over the thunder. "Is there no end to the plague of orcs in this land? Behold, we rode straight to them. They seem to be gathering around the wood of the lady Mirina!... 'What's that? Where has the Arnorian woman gone to? Damn this infernal weather, will the Valar not have pitty on us?" With that an arrow sped out of the night, and it was burning. It struck the ground in front of the company, and by some foul orc trick the whole of the ground sprung into flames, and the horses wanted to run wild. They steadied their horses, and galloped in the direction that they had came, in search of Lark. The orcs could not persue. They had not foreseen that they could not cross their own wall of fire, and smoke once again came to the eyes of the elves of Lorien.
--------------------------------------------------------------
The elves led the companions into the wood, and it was growing dim. Suddenly the cloudes opened up, and rain poured out. The elves gave a great cry of joy, for rain came little to these parts anymore. They began to sing songs of old, songs of the Noldor that Galadriel had tought them long ago. And suddenly Valar saw, in the distance, a great tower, only it didn't seem to have a bottom... it was suspended, built into the great tree. Truor gave a gasp of shock, and dropped his sword on his toe.

[EverEve]

Amidst the pounding of hooves, Eve could hear Lark muttering to herself under her breath. Worry-lines creased her fair face as she looked at her friend. "Lark?" seh called, and waited for an answer.

[Mormegil]

Mormegil looked up at the tower as they drew nearer, it reached high up into the trees, the top was not visible amongst the tops of the trees.
Mormegil could see Elven archers in the treetops, surveying the new arrivals to their kingdom.

As they reached the bottom of the tower, two of the Elves that had been escorting them went ahead into the tower. The other Elves told the companions to wait at the base until further instructed.

While they were waiting, a group of Elves led their horses away to be watered and cared for.

[Snaga]

They had not ridden far before they found Lark. But through the lashing rain, and the dwindling light of evening they had to slow for fear of missing some sign. But then Tarien gave a cry as she saw a figure lying motionless on the green grass.

They rushed to see what had befallen her, jumping from their horses.

She was cold and pale, and did not move. 'Is she... is she dead?' asked Kit, full of concern.

Eve looked at her, noticing how her veins stood out all across her body. She drew back her eyelids and recoiled at the blackening eyes within. She felt for a pulse. 'She is alive, just!'

Afterglow drew back the makeshift dressing covering the wound on Lark's arm. A sickening stench arose, and a foul fluid flowed from it. 'Oh no! The orc-blade was poisoned. She is going to die!'

And Elessar said: 'And there is no athelas in this land! We must get her to the elves. There is no time to lose!'

[Tarien]

Tarien lifts her easily in her arms, and sets her on Tai before her. She then turns to the company.
'I'm the fastest rider, I'll take her. Follow me as soon as you may. And may your eyries recieve you at journey's end!' Tarien cries, then whispers some command to her cat, causing it to spring foreward and away.
As they ride, Tarien rummages in her quiver, finding some faded, long-ago-picked flowers or a dusty gray hue. She takes the sash around her cloak and uses it to bind the flowers to the wound, which should help until she can reach her own.
Questions ran through her mind. Where are they? Are they still in their old dwellings? Do those young ones who remain remember the art of their elders? Do they have supplies that I may treat her? Do any of the older Elves remain? She had been gone too long to tell.

[Afterglow]

(ooc: I'm finally back!!)

Afterglow sits a bit stunned for a second. "I should have known it was poisened..." She muttered to herself. She shook her head quickly and turned to the others. "What shall we do?" She asked, somewhat helplessly.

[YayGollum]

See my perturbed OOC!

*Truor sits down on the ground and tries to pull off his boot to see if his toe is broken* "Argh! Can't we at least let our horses drink?"

[Tarien]

She rode silently through the eves of the wood. She saw none of her own kin; only the birds.
'If the Galadhrim remain, let them answer the call of one in need!' She cries, unable to stand the silence.
'Tarien Silwen, who do you bear?' asked a tall Elf, dropping to the forest floor beside her.
'Lark of Numenor. She has been poisoned by orcs; a wound beyond my skill to heal in the field, Thinorn. I don't carry everything in my quiver, you know.' She spat the words, angry at his absence. 'Of old you watched your borders better.'
'Then I will aid you.' Thinorn replied calmly. Tarien gave no answer, but bore Lark in her arms and lept from her cat. Thinorn turned and made for a large flet ahead, with Tarien in tow.
A stretcher extended down for Lark, and the Elves climbed up the ladder easily.

Once at the top, Lark was lain on a knit cot. Tarien pushed a several Elves aside as she walked across the flet to retrieve proper medicine and bandages. She laid a hand across Lark's brow.
'Fever' she whispered.
Then she unbound her sash from Lark's arm, using a bandage to bind a handful of leaves in place. She held her head up and tried to get Lark to swallow a vial full of some green-smelling liquid. The human coughed, then opened her eyes.

Tarien's relief was visible.

[¤-Elessar-¤]

Elessar stood by, and looked thoughtfully at the vial. He turned and whispered to Kit. "None of that stuff is supposed to be around anymore... there is no telling how long it has been ready for such a wound, or perhaps they have a secretive garden where some still may be found?...

[Snaga]

Weakly and through a fog Lark saw Tariens face, and the faces of other elves she knew not.

Then she fell asleep again.

Thinorn spoke quietly with Tarien. 'Let her rest here a while. We while take her to Caras Galadhon when she is stronger. One comes not that close to death, without feeling the weariness of it for some time. She must stay here and regain her strength.

'Alas the great ones of Lothlorien are all far from here at this time. You must all stay here. For I see in all your minds and bodies great weariness and hardship. I see torment and hunger in the man Elessar. And Mormegil who told us of your approach is bruised cruelly from a great fall I hear. And Valar has burns that will heal in time. And upon all you a dread hangs heavy that I do not yet understand.

'And anyway for now you cannot leave, for there rages now a battle on our border. Fear not! The orcs will be driven back, and your friends have come too: Edain woman, elf and halfling.

'So rest in our land, and recover your strength. And have such mirth as you may. Time will come for counsel thereafter.'

September 7

They companions rested at ease for the first time in longer than they could remember, although Kit was ill at ease high on the flet and slept little.

The next day, they awoke to find the hour was late and the sun was high in the sky. Save for Lark, who slept still, scarcely stirring. But Thinorn said: 'Let her sleep. I have no fear for her now!' And the elves led them deep into the golden woods, carrying Lark on a bower of branches.

At last, when the hour was late, their path spread out on a wide sweeping lawn of lush green grass, a clearing in the trees. Ahead lay Caras Galadhon, the fair elvish city. But before them, sat at their ease and eating fruit, were Truor, Mormegil and Valar.

'At last!' said Truor, rubbing his sore foot. 'You don't want to be late for the feast!'

'Feast?' said Kit, interested.

'We will be celebrating the defeat of the orcs tonight!' said Thinorn. 'They have been driven away. Alas for Lark, who will not able to join us!'

[Kit Baggins]

"Poor Lark." Kit says sadly. "I hope she'll be OK." Then he brightens up. "So what about this feast, then?" he asks.

(OOC sorry I haven't posted much- I've got exams at the moment :( .)

[Tarien]

OOC: I should probably be studying for SOLs right now, but...

ic: 'If a battle rages, I will not stand idle!' Tarien replies. 'The Noldor never were a peaceful people.'

[Snaga]

Thinorn smiled at Tarien. 'Bravely spoken! Yet the battle is over. The orcs are slain or have fled. Come! Let us go to Caras Galadhon where the feast awaits. Lark will be taken to a hostel where she shall be cared for.'

[EverEve]

ooc: i have MCAS! :( Die MCAS Die!!!!!

A smile found its way to Eve's lips and quickly broadened. "A feast for a victory sweet. Sounds good to me!"

[YayGollum]

OOC: I just had to put one more post before this was forgotten!

IC: *scarfing down food* "Mmmm! Got any vodka and fish?"

[Snaga]

And so they came to the feasting hall high in the boughs of the trees of Lothlorien. And arrayed on long tables was a feast of magnificient proportions awaiting them, bathed on the golden light of sun through the autumn leaves.

There were meats of all kinds: roast beef with batter puddings, racks of lamb ribs fed on fragrant herbs and grilled, gamebirds cooked with caramelised pears, duck with a sauce made from the sharp bright fruit of the south; fish! sardines covered in flour and grilled, trout from mountain streams stuffed with almonds and bay leaves, salmon from the Gulf of Lhun and smoked. And with it vegetables of all descriptions, potatoes: chipped, or baked or sauted. Salads: many kinds, beautiful and exotic. And breads: light and doughy or long and crispy. There were pies and tarts, and flans. And fruit of many kinds. There were cakes, and puddings of extravagant delight. With it all were the finest wines, and fire-water from the East, and Arnorian ales. Kit and Drygo afterwards would sigh deeply at the beautiful memory of it all, and together they ate and drank to their hearts content, while the beautiful music of the elves filled the air.

And so for the first time they could forget the perils they had faced, and rest. But in their hearts they knew the greater part of their task lay ahead of them.

Here ends Hope? The tale will be continued, in Book IV.